CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14830, 22 November 1913, Page 12

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER.

ATTACK ON A "SPECIAL ,, • i (SPECIAI. TO "THE PRESS ") AUCKLAND, November 21. •At the Police Court this morning," before Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M , Cforbs George Chatfield,' aged <; eighteen 3&n, who had been arrested by spedu tcastables last Friday in possession of two revolvers, was charged that on the date in question he attempted to murder one Cecil Lynch. ' David Crisbone stated that he was a special constable' doing duty at the""V wharf on Friday last; about 2 30 ptn, iii company with' Special-constables ,!T Jones, Joreensen, Lynch, and others, &, to the number of about forty, on foot. Hβ was marching towards the Domain He saw accused first in Pitt street on "*"-., a bicycle; later,' witnoss caw accused Jstanding leaning over tho bicydo near the hospital gales in Park road. He , a noticed that accused had a special con- ~ stable's badge on tho lapel of his coat Witness and Jones then etepped ont from the company and went towards accused. They asked him whoso badge ho had. He said, "Minb"' Cecil Lynch, who jalso came up, asked Chat- T field what company he belonged to, „ and he replied,"The Mercer company." Cecil Lynch then said ho would have to go to the camp for the purpose of identification. He said- ho wanted to leave his bicycle against the hospital fence, and witness said he had bettor take it t with him. Thereupon, Chatfield droopedhis bicycle in the middle of tli c roadway and attempted to run. Before ho had taken two steps witness caught hold of him by the coat-tail, .and as Chatfield endeavoured to free himself by turning ? witness caught him in an embrace round the waist, the pair of them bein<z * face ,to face. Chatfield's right hand „•„ went up, and witness felt something < which he thought was a baton touch. " the side of his face. Witness at onco tripped and threw Chatfield, and as he - lay on top of him ho caw one of the ~ "specials" take a revolver from Chatfield's hands. Chatfield was strugghnsi - and two or three men, whom witness ft took to bo accused's ma to, came along > and told Chatfield to go quietly Just : then Ronald Lynch, in charge of the company, came along. Accused was then held by two other men, but as ~- Lynch came along .accused attempted to pxit his right hand t in his breast , pocket. Lynch told one of the men to 3 pull his hand away. That was done, t and Lynch put his hand in Chatfield c breast-pocket and pulled out a revolver, fully loaded. Cbatfield then remarked, "For every- one of us taken we'll take' a boss 'scab , and a 'special'" Chatfield was then taken to tho camp, and on the way he asked tho "specials *w they had all the "peanuts," and at the same time ho handed over some more / cartridges from his pockets fo RonaM Lynch. "Witness caw cartridges tf both revolvers. Th© revolvers produced were, like tho revolvers act used taiSerceant Rock detailed tho p'ocing <* accused in'custody. When witness wa* entering tho -nolico-station Tratchncrase x in Princes street with accused, the Ist- % ter remarked to a friend who w a?stancK inir at the doorway, "It's, all for tho , good of the cau3e." Chatfield pleaded not guilty, an «; r f"* " serving his dofence, was cbmiwtwa w> the Surtremo Court for trial. ■Bμ «** allowed in one surety of £100. on* ol the conditions of bail tains J" 3 * 2 ** ensed should not reside in Auckland or its vjcinity during the nett two months.